There’s something magical about biting into a perfectly grilled chicken sandwich. That smoky, juicy chicken breast nestled between two toasty slices of bread is pretty darn good on its own, but let’s be honest – it’s the toppings that transform an ordinary sandwich into something extraordinary I’ve spent years perfecting my grilled chicken sandwich game, and I’m excited to share my favorite toppings that’ll take your sandwich from “meh” to “mind-blowing.”
The Building Blocks of an Epic Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Before we dive into the toppings extravaganza let’s talk about the foundation. A truly amazing grilled chicken sandwich needs
- Perfectly grilled chicken (juicy on the inside, slightly charred on the outside)
- The right bread (something sturdy enough to hold everything together)
- A balance of flavors and textures (creamy, crunchy, tangy, sweet)
- Enough moisture (nobody wants a dry sandwich!)
Now, let’s get to the good stuff – what to actually put on your grilled chicken sandwich to make it unforgettable
Classic Toppings That Never Disappoint
These are the tried-and-true favorites that form the backbone of a great grilled chicken sandwich:
1. Cheese
Cheese isn’t just a topping – it’s practically a requirement! Melty cheese adds creaminess and gives your sandwich more substance. Some fantastic options include:
- Cheddar: Sharp and classic
- Swiss: Nutty and mellow
- Pepper jack: For a spicy kick
- Provolone: Smooth and mild
- Mozzarella: Perfect for that chicken parmesan vibe
Pro tip: Add the cheese while the chicken is still hot so it gets all melty and delicious.
2. Lettuce
Crisp lettuce adds that essential fresh crunch that balances the smoky chicken. Your best bets are:
- Iceberg: Maximum crispness
- Romaine: Sturdier with more flavor
- Butter lettuce: Tender and delicate
- Bibb or red leaf: Soft but flavorful
Shredded lettuce works best for even distribution in each bite!
3. Tomato
A juicy tomato slice adds sweetness and acidity that perfectly balances the smoky chicken. Just don’t go too thick with your slices, or they’ll slip right out of your sandwich!
- Beefsteak: Big and juicy
- Heirloom: More complex flavors
- Roma: Less watery, more concentrated flavor
4. Onion
Onions add that distinctive bite that elevates the whole sandwich. Options include:
- Red onion: Sharp and colorful
- Sweet Vidalia: Milder and, well, sweeter
- Grilled onions: Caramelized and mellower
- Pickled red onions: Tangy with beautiful color
Pro tip: Quickly rinse sliced raw onions under cold water to tame their sharpness.
Next-Level Toppings for Serious Sandwich Enthusiasts
Ready to take your grilled chicken sandwich to new heights? These toppings will help you get there:
5. Avocado or Guacamole
Creamy avocado slices or freshly made guacamole adds richness that pairs wonderfully with the lean grilled chicken. The healthy fats in avocado also help carry flavors and add that luxurious mouthfeel that makes each bite satisfying.
6. Bacon
I mean, do I really need to explain why bacon is on this list? It’s BACON. Crispy, smoky, salty perfection that makes everything better. Just make sure it’s properly cooked – nobody wants limp, chewy bacon in their sandwich.
7. Pickles
Briny pickles cut through the richness of other toppings and add that perfect acidic punch. Dill pickle chips are classic, but bread and butter pickles or pickled veggies work great too.
8. BBQ Sauce
What’s better than BBQ sauce on grilled meat? The sweet, tangy, smoky flavor complements chicken wonderfully. Choose your favorite regional style – Kansas City, Memphis, Carolina, or Texas – and don’t be stingy!
9. Mayo & Special Sauces
The right sauce can make or break your sandwich. Some top contenders:
- Mayo: Classic creaminess that helps hold everything together
- Pesto: Herby, nutty, and bright
- Chipotle mayo: Smoky with a kick
- Sriracha mayo: Spicy and creamy
- Honey mustard: Sweet and tangy
10. Caramelized Onions
For next-level flavor, top your sandwich with sweet, rich caramelized onions. They take time but are SO worth the effort – their jammy texture and intense flavor are game-changers.
Unexpected Toppings That Will Blow Your Mind
Now we’re getting into the territory of sandwich innovation. These might sound unusual, but trust me – they’re amazing.
11. Potato Chips
Yes, INSIDE the sandwich! Crushed ruffled potato chips add incredible texture and saltiness. The contrast between the crunchy chips and soft bread/chicken is absolutely divine.
12. Pineapple
For a summery twist, add grilled pineapple slices to your chicken sandwich. The sweet, tangy fruit balances the savory chicken beautifully. Grilling the pineapple caramelizes its natural sugars and adds another layer of smoky goodness.
13. Hot Honey
This trendy condiment is worth the hype. The sweet heat adds complexity that will make your taste buds dance. Drizzle it generously over your chicken right after grilling.
14. Jalapeños
Fresh or pickled jalapeños add a kick that wakes up your whole mouth. If you’re using fresh ones, remove the seeds and membranes for milder heat, or leave them in if you’re brave!
15. Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw adds crunch, tanginess, and moisture all at once. It’s like adding three toppings in one! Make it yourself or use good quality store-bought slaw.
Assembling Your Perfect Sandwich
The way you layer your toppings matters almost as much as the toppings themselves! Here’s my foolproof stacking method:
- Bottom bun: Slather with mayo or sauce of choice
- Lettuce: Creates a moisture barrier to prevent soggy bread
- Chicken: The star of the show
- Cheese: Place directly on hot chicken to melt
- Bacon: Because bacon deserves a special place
- Tomato & onion: Their juices will drip down
- Avocado/guacamole: Won’t slide around if placed here
- More sauce: Another layer of flavor
- Crunchy elements: Chips or pickles
- Top bun: More mayo or sauce
The Art of Balance
Remember, sandwich making is about balance. You want:
- Moisture from sauces, tomatoes, and other juicy ingredients
- Crunch from lettuce, chips, or bacon
- Creaminess from cheese, avocado, or mayo
- Acidity from pickles, tomatoes, or vinegar-based sauces
- Heat (optional) from jalapeños or spicy sauces
Don’t go overboard with too many competing flavors. Sometimes the simplest combinations are the most satisfying.
My Personal Favorite Grilled Chicken Sandwich Combinations
I’ve experimented with countless combos over the years, and these are my top 3:
The Classic Upgrade
- Grilled chicken
- Sharp cheddar
- Crispy bacon
- Tomato
- Lettuce
- Pickles
- Mayo + mustard
The Mediterranean
- Grilled chicken
- Provolone
- Pesto
- Roasted red peppers
- Fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic glaze
The Sweet Heat
- Grilled chicken
- Pepper jack cheese
- Grilled pineapple
- Jalapeños
- Bacon
- BBQ sauce
Final Thoughts
The beauty of a grilled chicken sandwich is its versatility. There’s no “wrong” way to top it as long as you enjoy the result. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations or to customize based on what’s in your fridge.
Remember that quality matters – freshly baked bread, properly cooked chicken, and the ripest produce will always give you the best results. Take your time assembling each component, and then dig in and enjoy every incredible bite of your crave-worthy grilled chicken sandwich creation!
What’s your favorite way to top a grilled chicken sandwich? I’d love to hear your combinations in the comments below. Happy sandwich making!
FAQ About Grilled Chicken Sandwich Toppings
Q: What are the most essential toppings for a grilled chicken sandwich?
A: The classics never fail: lettuce, tomato, and mayo or another sauce form the foundation of a great sandwich. Everything else is a bonus!
Q: What goes well with grilled chicken sandwiches as sides?
A: Grilled corn, cucumber-tomato-avocado salad, potato salad, or a simple side of chips all pair wonderfully with grilled chicken sandwiches.
Q: How can I keep my grilled chicken sandwich from getting soggy?
A: Layer strategically! Put lettuce on the bottom bun as a barrier, and toast your buns before assembling. Also, wait until just before eating to add very wet ingredients.
Q: What’s the best cheese for a grilled chicken sandwich?
A: This comes down to personal preference, but meltable cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, provolone, and pepper jack are all excellent choices.
Q: How can I make my chicken sandwich spicy?
A: Add pickled jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, hot sauce, or chipotle mayo. You can also season your chicken with cayenne or chili powder before grilling.
Tactic 1: Build Robust Flavor
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-03-2e2f0dbbe81d4095890deffb9f19d0d2.jpg)
You will notice that, yes, there is bacon in this thing, and yes, that is partly why its so good. Itd still be good even without the bacon, but lets be real, chicken is chicken and bacon is bacon and thats all there is to it. But you dont have to use bacon for similar effect—whats important here is what the bacon is adding, namely a robust savoriness and additional layers of smoke to enhance the overall grilled effect. You could skip the bacon and rub the chicken in a spice mixture that includes Spanish paprika, or lean on another umami-rich ingredient like grilled mushrooms, cheese, or roasted tomatoes.
To grill the chicken, I used Josh Bousels rock-solid method. First, he quickly pounds the breasts to flatten them, which guarantees that they cook evenly. Then he dry-brines them for 30 minutes, which helps keep them juicy despite the dry heat of the grill. You can use those 30 minutes to get other things ready, like making the green sauce and preheating your grill.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-04-01147c5c1748435ca263df99eba34f91.jpg)
To grill the bacon, I borrowed Kenjis clever method, which involves flipping the thick-cut rashers right on the edge of a two-zone fire. That way, theyre exposed to just enough heat to get crisp, but not so much that they blacken from flare-ups caused by excessive dripping grease.
I added one step when grilling the chicken, brushing them with an avocado-jalapeño-cilantro green sauce just a minute or two before they come off the grill. If there are any readers out there who know more about Colombian burgers than I do, I cant claim this sauce is authentic or correct. I can claim that its really tasty. The last-minute brushing quickly cooks the sauce onto the breasts without burning it, but dont worry, well add some more fresh sauce later.
Tactic 2: Condiments, Toppings, and Thoughtful Assembly
Once the chicken and bacon are cooked, all thats left is to toast the buns and assemble the sandwiches.
How you assemble this sandwich is critical because you want to make sure its saucy and juicy enough. A good beef burger, in my book, has to have enough fat flowing from the patty that it runs down my hands, over my wrists, and at least attempts a journey along my forearms. I expect no less with this sandwich. But chicken breast, even when perfectly cooked, isnt the kind of meat thats prone to dripping juices, so it needs some help from lots and lots of mayo and sauce. To achieve that, you need ample slatherings of at least one condiment—and more than one isnt the worst idea! Here, I added the mayo in two layers, one on the top bun and one on the bottom, plus an extra dose of the green sauce. Thats going to give us plenty of delicious, messy drips.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-06-e0563b1a22e54af7a0b0595b533c163d.jpg)
The other critical element is anything that adds texture. Here, theres we go all in, with crunchy crumbled potato chips. I went with ruffled because theyre thicker and sturdier than regular chips, so theyd offer lots of crunch even when broken into small pieces and coated in sauce. And its the crunch that we want—its all about adding texture to an otherwise very soft, wet sandwich.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-07-c291fb53088a497c812c3e552599d5dc.jpg)
Crushed ruffled potato chips add lots of salty crunch. But thats not the only thing to deliver here—not in this sandwich, nor in any other grilled chicken sandwich. Look to fresh, crisp toppings like pickles, lettuce, and onions to compensate for chicken breasts uni-textural experience.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-08-72fa64d9c5f542ecb1a4abb2e7e87ae6.jpg)
The shredded iceberg lettuce here is cool and fresh.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-09-6b14988f3fa94e09b89d3a6038edd28d.jpg)
The grilled chicken breast, glistening with the green sauce, is next.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-10-7c39be2d5ca94b8bbfa5a0ee5c853ffd.jpg)
Bacon is bacon, nuff said.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-12-d180fdee6e5e475b9b469ad982e657c9.jpg)
Tomato adds another fresh flavor and lots of its own juice; another spoonful of spicy green sauce amps up the drip factor and adds even more bold flavor.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-13-3c07da1b7ecd47b08be60b3c0de91b49.jpg)
The top bun gets even more mayo. Slather it on!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-14-b36100c0888146eb8d3b1e42f8f6e66e.jpg)
One more sprinkling of potato chips and you can close the sandwich. Again, its all about layers of flavor and texture.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__s__2014__04__20140421-grilled-chicken-sandwich-colombian-bacon-potato-chip-green-sauce-recipe-18-dcfb25ade30c4130b4f57573e93c3212.jpg)
Just try not to make a mess…